The show kicks off with a recap of what happened with Triple H, Randy Orton, and Cody Rhodes. Rhodes took issue with how Triple H is running the business, so he was put into a match against Orton with his job on the line. Rhodes fought hard, but Orton pinned him. Triple H then fired him.

The Smackdown video plays, and we’re brought into the arena to hear Lilian Garcia introduce the WWE COO Triple H. Triple H is in the ring with RAW General Manager Brad Maddox and Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero. The ring is covered in a red carpet, and it appears the majority of the WWE roster is standing at the top of the stage. The Shield stands in front of the ramp. Triple H welcomes the crowd to Smackdown. Before we get started, he wants to take a moment to inform everybody that, regretfully, as of this past Monday night, Cody Rhodes is no longer a WWE Superstar. Triple H says Rhodes was fired for just cause. Rhodes was insubordinate and disrespectful to the position of COO of WWE. The COO of WWE represents the WWE, so in essence, as COO, he is the WWE. Rhodes was disrespectful and insubordinate to all of the fans and superstars, and that’s something he will not stand for. Even then, he gave Rhodes the opportunity to fight for his job. He asked him to go to the ring to perform his job, and he failed. He didn’t fire Cody Rhodes. Cody Rhodes fired Cody Rhodes.

That pains him because he’s friends with Rhodes and his family. It’s painful for him to have to do that, but that is the burden he takes as COO of WWE. They are hard decisions that have to be made. Sometimes when you make them, you come across as the bad guy. He’s willing to accept that to do what is best for business.

That’s why we’re here tonight. He’s here for all of the superstars. He says he wants to create an open forum because he feels like there may be some misunderstanding on the way business is being done. He doesn’t want anyone to fear for their jobs. He wants them to ask any question or statement of him with no fear of repercussions. Triple H asks who will go first, but they’re all hesitant to step up to the microphone. Triple H says he works for all of them, but he can only do that if they open up to him. They have to tell him how they feel. He’ll work harder than any man on the planet for them. He wants to grow, but they can only do it if they’re honest with each other.

Damien Sandow steps up to the microphone and clears his throat. He says he fully supports the termination of Cody Rhodes. After all, Rhodes exemplifies everything that is bad for business. For that, as their fearless leader, he commends Triple H. Triple H thanks him, and he says this is not him looking for people to kiss his butt. He wants them to be open an honest. Triple H calls on Alicia Fox, but she shakes her head.

Kofi Kingston walks up to the microphone. Kingston says he wants to be honest with him. Ever since he fired Rhodes, everyone is living in fear. He doesn’t see how that is best for business. Rhodes was out there fighting for his life, and Triple H took his livelihood away. Triple H says that is a fair point. He understands how from Kingston’s point of view… but he’s interrupted by Heath Slater. Slater says he’s uncomfortable with the resident giant who watches everything going on. Slater then thanks Triple H because he thinks Triple H’s management style is great. Triple H thanks Slater for emptying what was surely the entire content of his mind.

Triple H implores the superstars to open up. Rob Van Dam walks up to the microphone. RVD says Triple H brought him back to WWE a couple of months ago. He was under the impression that things were better now, but this whole vibe that they’re all feeling, “Not cool, dude.” Triple H says he’s been waiting since probably 2000 for RVD to call him “dude.” Triple H says that he still has the same faith in him as he did a few months ago when he called him to bring him back. The crowd chants “RVD.”

Ryback steps up to the microphone, and he says he’s sick and tired of everyone calling him a bully. Triple H says that’s a fair point. It’s not Ryback’s fault that Dolph Ziggler was injured when he got to the ring. Ryback did his job the way he was supposed to. It’s not his fault. He’ll give Ryback the opportunity to redeem that. Tonight, Dolph Ziggler will go one-on-one with Ryback. Ziggler can’t believe it.

Triple H says Daniel Bryan is conspicuous by his absence. The crowd chants “YES!” Triple H says Bryan not being up there is symptomatic of Bryan’s problem. Bryan’s problem is his ego, and it’s gotten so out of control that he can’t stand on stage with the “little people.” Triple H says that’s a shame because he wanted to look Bryan in the eye and tell him what he’s going to be doing tonight. Bryan will be in the ring, and he’ll have the opportunity to pick any member of The Shield to go one-on-one with tonight.

Triple H says this has been really helpful. For him, it’s been cathartic. He’s really excited, and he’s happy for the people who spoke up. He wants to reward them. Kofi Kingston is a true leader in the locker room, and he wants to reward that. Kingston will get a non-title match against Curtis Axel. Triple H then calls on RVD, and he says he’ll have the opportunity to step into the ring next against the face of the WWE, the WWE Champion Randy Orton.

-Commercial Break-

Alberto Del Rio’s music is playing, and he’s at the commentary table with Michael Cole and JBL.

Rob Van Dam vs. Randy Orton

Ricardo Rodriguez is ringside for RVD. They circle the ring, and RVD catches him with a spin kick to the midsection. RVD pushes him to the corner and hits some shoulder thrusts. RVD hits a snapmare before going to the top rope for a diving leg drop. RVD picks up a two count. RVD bounces his face off the turnbuckle and kicks him in the face for a near fall. Orton is draped over the apron, and RVD catches him with a springboard leg drop. RVD quickly goes to the top rope and hits a diving thrust kick for another near fall. RVD goes for Rolling Thunder, but Orton counters into a powerslam halfway through the flip for a near fall!

Orton begins to stomp away at RVD’s leg. Orton then stomps the head. Orton sends him into the ropes, but RVD backflips over him. RVD takes him down with a double wheel kick for a two count. RVD punches him to the corner before hitting some shoulder thrusts. Orton catches him with some knees to the face before punching away at him. Orton covers for a two count. Orton uses the rope to stretch RVD’s neck before punching away at him some more. Orton whips him to the corner, but he runs into a kick. RVD quickly follows up with a split-legged moonsault, but Orton kicks out at two. RVD does his taunt as Orton rolls out of the ring. RVD follows, and Orton kicks him. Orton sends him into the barricade. Orton tries to suplex him at ringside, but RVD counters into a front suplex on the barricade. RVD gets on the apron and goes for his diving wheel kick, but Orton moves. RVD hits the barricade hard, and he’s holding his leg.

Orton grabs RVD by the hair and throws him into the ring. Orton stomps the midsection and begins to stomp all the limbs. Orton taunts the crowd. Orton picks him up, and RVD comes back with some punches. RVD hits the ropes, and Orton takes him down with a dropkick. Orton then throws him out of the ring.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see RVD trapped in a chin lock. RVD fights up and elbows him, but Orton clubs the back. Orton sends him to the corner and runs into a back elbow. RVD hits a pair of clotheslines and a superkick. RVD hits a standing moonsault for a near fall. RVD catches him with a wheel kick in the corner. RVD sends him to the opposite corner and goes for his monkey flip, but Orton moves. RVD lands on the second rope, and Orton kicks him in the back of the knee. RVD crashes to the mat, and Orton picks up a two count.

Orton hits his patented backbreaker before picking him up by the ponytail. Orton then hits a draping DDT. Orton looks to the crowd before dropping down for an RKO. Orton waits for RVD to get up. Orton goes for the RKO, but RVD kicks him in the face. RVD rolls him up with his legs for a near fall. RVD quickly follows up with a diving thrust kick. RVD connects with Rolling Thunder before springing up to the top rope. RVD goes for the Five Star Frog Splash, but Orton rolls out of the way. RVD rolls out of the ring, and Rodriguez checks on him. Orton scares Rodriguez away before sending RVD into the ring. Orton gets into the ring, and RVD catches him with a double wheel kick.

Del Rio leaves the commentary table and sends Rodriguez into the ring post. RVD quickly takes Del Rio out with a rolling senton over the top rope! Orton quickly gets out of the ring to throw RVD into the commentary table. Orton then puts the legs on the apron before hitting a hanging DDT to the floor! Orton puts him in the ring as the crowd chants, “This is awesome!” Orton stands RVD up only to drop him with the RKO for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Randy OrtonMatch Rating: ** 1/4

After Randy Orton leaves the ring, Alberto Del Rio runs in and begins kicking away at Rob Van Dam. Del Rio then applies the Cross Arm Breaker. The referee tries to break the hold, but Del Rio releases it on his own power. Del Rio holds the championship up.

We’ll hear from Daniel Bryan, next.

-Commercial Break-

Renee Young is backstage with Daniel Bryan. She asks for his reaction on Triple H’s comments at the town hall meeting. Bryan says he doesn’t think he’s better than anybody. He was told by WWE management not to go out there because he wasn’t invited. Secondly, if by “ego problem” he means does he want to be WWE Champion, then the answer to that question is “YES!” As far as facing one member of The Shield, he knows it won’t be one-on-one. He’ll let The Shield decide who wants to get beat up before the other two jump in. He knows he can beat any member of The Shield just like he knows he can beat Randy Orton for the WWE Championship.

Elsewhere backstage, AJ Lee is walking when she greets Layla, Alicia Fox, and Aksana. AJ says she knows that they don’t entirely like her, but she’s used to it. AJ says she’d rather defend the title against any of them instead of those “Total Divas.” AJ says Natalya and the Bellas and the Funkadactyls think that just because they’re pretty they deserve a shot at the title. AJ says they think they’re better than them. AJ says the three of them are so talented. AJ gets them fired up about their TV time being stolen. AJ says she has an idea. They huddle for the plan.

Dolph Ziggler’s music hits. He’ll be in action against Ryback, next.

-Commercial Break-

Dolph Ziggler vs. Ryback

Footage is shown of Ziggler waiting to face Ryback on RAW when Dean Ambrose attacked him from behind. Ryback then came up and picked on the scraps for an easy win.

The bell rings, and Ziggler ducks a pair of clotheslines. Ryback lifts him up, but Ziggler lands on his feet. Ryback then charges, but Ziggler pulls the top rope down. Ryback quickly runs back into the ring, but Ziggler drops him into the ropes. Ziggler then dropkicks him down. Ryback then quickly sidesteps an avalanche. Ryback stomps away at him before hitting a body slam. Ryback follows up with a big splash for a near fall. Dean Ambrose comes through the crowd to sit at the commentary table. Ambrose assures Michael Cole that he’s safe.

Ryback applies a bear hug to Ziggler. Ryback puts him on his shoulders for a couple of near falls. Ryback then powers him back into the bear hug. Ziggler punches and elbows him in the head. Ryback goes for a slam, but Ziggler counters into a big DDT. Ryback charges, but Ziggler sends him shoulder first into the ring post. Ziggler avalanches him in the corner before punching away at him. Ziggler hits a neckbreaker for a two count. Ryback avoids a famouser, but Ziggler soon connects with it anyway. Ryback counters a whip, and they clunk heads. Ziggler rolls out of the ring.

Ryback goes outside and charges him, but Ziggler moves and he hits the steel steps. Ambrose talks trash from the table, and Ziggler chases him. Ryback then takes Ziggler down with a rough clothesline. Ryback throws him into the ring and hits the Shell Shocked for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: RybackMatch Rating: * 1/4

Dean Ambrose shakes his head at ringside before leaving through the crowd.

They circle the ring and lock up. Axel applies a side headlock, but Kingston turns it into a headlock and takes him down. A “Curtis Axel” chant breaks out in his hometown. Axel fights out of the headlock, and he takes Kingston down by the leg. Kingston quickly comes back with a hammerlock, but Axel reaches the ropes. They exchange words before locking up again. Axel applies a side headlock before hitting a takeover. Kingston fights up and whips him off. Axel takes him down with a shoulder block. Axel hits the ropes, but Kingston jumps over him a few times before hitting a back elbow. Axel rolls out of the ring to regroup with Heyman.

Axel gets back into the ring. Kingston goes for a test of strength, but Axel kicks him in the midsection. Axel sends him into the rope, but Kingston comes back with a head-scissor takeover. Axel rolls out of the ring, and Kingston fakes a suicide dive. Axel sidesteps a baseball slide and kicks him. Axel sends him towards the steel steps, but Kingston jumps over them. Kingston then leaps off the steps for a clothesline! Kingston sends him into the ropes, and Heyman distracts him. Axel capitalizes on that with a shoulder thrust, sending Kingston crashing to the floor.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Kingston trapped in a chin lock. The crowd is chanting to Axel again. Kingston fights out before having a whip reversed. Axel clotheslines him in the back of the head for a near fall. Axel hits a body slam before going to the second rope. Kingston gets his legs up as Axel lands on them.

Kingston hits some chops before taking him down with a dropkick. Kingston hits the ropes, but Axel hits him with a dropkick of his own for a two count. Heyman shouts encouraging words at Axel. Axel clubs away at him before sending him to the corner. Axel runs into a boot, but he’s able to take Kingston down on the top rope. Axel has him in the tree of woe, and he clubs at the chest. Axel brings him to the center of the ring, and Kingston surprises him with the SOS for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Kofi KingstonMatch Rating: **

Paul Heyman is so stunned that the WWE Intercontinental Championship slides off his shoulder to the floor. Axel cannot believe it.

The announcers talk about the disappearance of Kane following Summerslam. They then replay the promo by Bray Wyatt from RAW.

Daniel Bryan will take on a member of The Shield in tonight’s main event.

-Commercial Break-

Paul Heyman is walking backstage when Renee Young stops him. She says if Curtis Axel is defeated at Night of Champions like he was just now, he’ll be all alone with CM Punk. Does that concern him? Heyman says she means to ask if he’s frightened. Tonight was an error in judgment. They overlooked Kofi Kingston because he’s been so distracted by CM Punk’s obsession with him. That wasn’t Axel’s fault. That was his fault. It’s a mistake they won’t make again. If CM Punk gets his hands on him at Night of Champions, Punk will rip him limb from limb. Punk promised to break his face. Heyman says Punk promised he would show the whole world a side him they wouldn’t accept. His worst is a lot better than Punk’s. Heyman promises that. Young then mentions that Punk guaranteed he would beat Axel. Heyman walks off.

Naomi w/ Cameron vs. Brie Bella w/ Nikki Bella

Brie kicks her in the knee and takes her down for a low dropkick. That gets her a one count. Brie throws her by the hair before kneeing her in the face. Brie applies a cobra clutch, but Naomi fights up. Naomi hits a snapmare before dropkicking her a few times. Naomi hits a flipping clothesline for a near fall. Brie reverses a whip, and Naomi slides to the apron. Naomi kicks her in the head. They then both fall out of the ring fighting one another.

AJ Lee, Layla, Aksana, and Alicia Fox run down and attack all four women. AJ is directing traffic here. They overtake the Bellas and the Funkadactyls.

No ContestMatch Rating: 1/4 *

AJ Lee grabs a microphone, and she says her name before holding up the Divas Championship.

Jimmy Uso will start against Antonio Cesaro. Jimmy charges, but Cesaro takes him down with a dropkick. Cesaro throws him out of the ring and tags in Jack Swagger. Swagger quickly takes Jimmy down with a chop block at ringside. Swagger hits some shoulder thrusts, and Cesaro kicks him in the head. Cesaro tags in. Swagger hits a Swagger Bomb, and Cesaro leapfrogs Swagger to hit a double stomp. They do their taunt. Cesaro chops the chest, but Jimmy comes right back. Cesaro uppercuts him, and Swagger is tagged in. They slam Jimmy down for a near fall. Swagger under-hooks the arms and pulls back. Jimmy fights up and punches out. Swagger runs into a back elbow before taking a back body drop over the top rope.

Jey Uso is tagged in as wells as Cesaro, and Jey hip tosses him over the top rope. Jey then takes him out with a leaping senton over the top rope! Jey hits a shoulder block off the top rope before hitting a running butt bump in the corner. Swagger breaks up the pinfall. Jey takes Swagger out, and Cesaro gets an inside cradle for a two count. Jey catches him with a sidekick. Swagger goes for a distraction, but Jey fights him off. Jimmy leaps at him, but Swagger sidesteps him. Swagger then pushes Jey off the top rope into an uppercut from Cesaro!

Winner by Pinfall: The Real AmericansMatch Rating: * 1/2

Big Show is backstage in Triple H’s office. Triple H asks him what the problem is. Big Show says he knows what the problem is. Triple H says it must be what 3MB said. Triple H says he won’t let anyone disrespect Big Show. He’s going to let Big Show take out his rage. He wants Big Show to go out to the ring and take out 3MB. He wants him to treat them like “human stress balls.”

-Commercial Break-

The RAW Rebound highlights what happened with Daniel Bryan and Big Show on RAW. Triple H forced Big Show to give Bryan a KO Punch.

3MB vs. Big Show

Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is the official for this match. Heath Slater will start against Big Show. Big Show elbows him in the thigh after blocking a kick. Big Show then knocks Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal off the apron. Big Show punches away at McIntyre before sending him into the barricade. Big Show attacks Mahal and chops the chest. Big Show then spears McIntyre at ringside. Big Show then knees him in the skull. All three are in the ring, and Big Show hits McIntyre and Mahal with a double chokeslam. Big Show then looks at Slater before taking him down with a Knockout Punch for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Big ShowMatch Rating: 1/2 *

The Shield’s music hits as Big Show makes his way up the ramp. They come in through the crowd as Big Show stares at them. Triple H then comes out to the stage and congratulates Big Show on his match before imploring him to come backstage.

The Shield will pick who will face Daniel Bryan in the main event, next.

-Commercial Break-

Edge will appear on Friday Night Smackdown next week.

Daniel Bryan comes out to a tremendous reception. He tells The Shield to choose. Roman Reigns steps forward, but Seth Rollins attacks him from behind.

Seth Rollins w/ Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan

Rollins kicks and punches away at Bryan before having a whip reversed. Bryan turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection. Bryan viciously kicks away at the chest before sending him to the ropes. Rollins avoids a roundhouse kick, but Bryan comes back with an over the top rope clothesline a la Mick Foley. Bryan puts him in the ring, and Rollins knees him when coming back in. Rollins then body slams him over the top rope!

Rollins high fives Reigns at ringside before bounding Bryan off the apron. Rollins hangs Bryan over the apron before kicking him in the head. Rollins picks up a near fall. Rollins applies a chin lock, but Bryan fights up and punches out. They trade punches with Bryan coming out on top. Rollins tries for a punch, but Bryan turns him inside out with a German Suplex! Bryan hits a vicious corner dropkick before going to the top rope for a missile dropkick. Bryan picks up a near fall. Bryan kicks away at the chest, but Rollins ducks a roundhouse. Rollins shoves him to the apron, but Bryan comes back by bouncing him off the turnbuckle. Bryan climbs to the top rope, but Rollins kicks him in the head. Bryan falls to the floor. Reigns then clotheslines him down.

Rollins throws Bryan into the steel steps a few times. Rollins throws him into the ring before going to the top rope. Rollins jumps, but Bryan avoids it and applies the Yes! Lock. Bryan dropkicks Reigns and Ambrose off the apron. Rollins attacks him from behind. Rollins sends him into the ropes, but Bryan ducks a clothesline and takes Reigns out with a suicide dive. Bryan then gives Ambrose a hip toss, and he appears to land on Reigns’ ankle. Bryan punches Rollins in the face and hits the running knee to the skull for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Daniel BryanMatch Rating: **

Daniel Bryan celebrates at the top of the stage and leads a great “YES” chant. All of a sudden, Randy Orton attacks him from behind with the WWE Championship. Orton stands over Bryan as the show ends.